Merrimack Valley Magazine

NoteWorthy – 1/19/20

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AROUND THE VALLEY

GLCF Receives a Barr Foundation Grant for Lowell Cultural Economy Plan

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) has been awarded a $125,000 grant from the Barr Foundation to develop a Cultural Economy Plan for Lowell.

Broadly inclusive and forward-looking, the planning process will engage the arts and cultural organizations, practitioners and diverse residents to work together for a more vibrant arts and cultural community and creative economy.

 

Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union Accepting College Scholarship Applications

Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union is accepting applications for its Annual MoneyStrong College Scholarship and for the Cooperative Credit Union Association’s 2020 Credit Union College Scholarship Program.

The Credit Union’s MoneyStrong College Scholarship will award $10,000 in scholarships to applicants currently enrolled in college, as well as incoming freshmen for the fall 2020 semester. Student applicants must be members of Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union to be eligible. Current college students can apply to receive $1,000 and high school seniors could receive $500.

More information including submission forms, instructions, required documentation and application deadlines for each scholarship can be accessed here. 

Docs for Socks: Anna Jaques Hospital Partners With Local Podiatrists To Collect Socks For The Homeless

Newburyport Podiatrists Angela Barnes and James J. DiResta once again partnered with Anna Jaques Hospital in the “Docs for Socks” program and collected 400 pairs of new socks for people impacted by homelessness in the Valley. The socks were delivered to Ellie Davis at the YWCA Greater Newburyport who will distribute the socks to the greatest area of need throughout the community.

Why socks? The answer is simple: homeless men and women who live in shelters and on the streets spend much of their time outside and are often exposed to rain, snow, ice and cold temperatures; this leaves many with soaking wet socks and shoes for days or weeks at a time. These circumstances can result in serious infections and ailments, such as immersion foot or frostbite. The best way to prevent these types of conditions is to keep feet clean, dry and warm.

Ruth’s House Receives Grant From The George C. Wadleigh Foundation For $20,000

Ruth’s House received a $20,000 grant from the George C. Wadleigh Foundation. The foundation awards grants primarily to organizations caring for indigent seniors and individuals in the Greater Haverhill area.
“In any given one-month period, Ruth’s House provides nearly 16,000 articles of clothing to low income families and individuals,” shared Barbara Donegan, president of the board of directors of Ruth’s House. “We are again grateful to the George C. Wadleigh Foundation for supporting Ruth’s House in our mission of providing clothing to those in need, as well as providing job skills training.”

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Greater Lowell Community Foundation Elects New Member to Board of Directors

At the Greater Lowell Community Foundation December Board Meeting, the board of directors unanimously approved the election of Ryan J. Swartz, an attorney at McLane Middleton and vice chair of its Trusts and Estates Department, to the board.

Swartz advises individuals and families regarding various estate planning matters, including estate, gift, income and generation skipping transfer tax strategies. He advises fiduciaries in conservatorship, probate and trust administration matters. Ryan also counsels individuals and business owners regarding business succession planning and various asset protection techniques.

NoteWorthy – 1/12/20

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AROUND THE VALLEY

‘Parties With A Purpose’ Teen Volunteers Help To Feed Those In Need

On the Saturday night before Christmas, Lazarus House volunteer Paula McKenna stood in the kitchen of a North Andover home, effortlessly managing a group of animated teens cracking eggs and shredding loaves of bread.

The group made French toast that provided breakfast for more than 100 guests in the Lazarus House Soup Kitchen.

“The kids came to us and said, ‘How do we help?’” said McKenna. While it was her idea to cook for Lazarus House, enormous credit goes to the teens who meet about once a month and have now made nearly 3,000 meals.

 

UMass Lowell’s Coburn Hall Undergoes Major Renovation

Photo credit: Ed Brennen for UMass Lowell
Extensive renovations to UMass Lowell’s Coburn Hall, built in the 1890s and the campus’ oldest building, are being completed in time for the university’s 125th anniversary. Modern features have been added, including technology-enabled “smart classrooms” and research space overlooking South Campus. The building will be home to the College of Education and Department of Psychology when it reopens for classes this month.
Photo credit: Ed Brennen for UMass Lowell
With the project comes the restoration of a 64-foot by 10-foot mural that was painted in the 1930s, but has been covered under coats of beige paint since the 1980s. Rediscovered in 2015 by a UMass Lowell art professor, the mural’s restoration emerged as a priority in restoring Coburn Hall. Leading that effort is the chief conservator at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, who has worked to uncover and repair the mural, which depicts a range of images, including iconic scenes around the city of Lowell and its people.

Scott Plath Plans New Location For 2020

Scott Plath of Cobblestones and Moonstones is planning a new location in Nashua, according to a recent announcement to employees.

The plan for a new location has been cooking in Plath’s mind for the last five years — as he and his wife, Kathy, look for a concept to offset the many challenges facing the restaurant industry. Located on Route 101/Amherst Street, the busiest thoroughfare in New Hampshire, the restaurant duo plans on building upon the reputation which has sustained them over a combined 36 years — one of quality food, hospitality and a commitment to community and team.

Millyard Bank Opens For Business

After meticulous planning, Millyard Bank, Nashua’s newest community bank is open for business on Northeastern Boulevard. The bank is led by longtime banking executive and Nashua native G. Frank Teas.

In addition to Millyard Bank’s retail office and operations space, the bank features a 500-square-foot conference room dedicated for public use. “The Boiler Room” will be used for educational opportunities for the community.

GLCF Announces Cambodian Journalism Dream Scholarship Fund

As a new year begins, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation announced the establishment of the Cambodian Journalism Dream Scholarship Fund. This new scholarship provides funds for an individual of Cambodian decent who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in journalism or communication.

Soben Pin, co-founder and publisher of the KhmerPost USA, established the Cambodian Journalism Dream Scholarship Fund through the Greater Lowell Community Foundation.

Joel Javier Named 2019 Youth of the Year by Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence

Joel Javier, who is widely recognized at the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence as a role model for younger youth members, was recently selected as the 2019 Youth of the Year.

Established in 1947, Youth of the Year is the Boys & Girls Club of America’s premier recognition program for club members 14 to 18 years old, promoting values of leadership and service, academic excellence, and healthy lifestyles. The National Youth of the Year, who is installed by the President of the United States, serves as an exemplary ambassador for Boys & Girls Club youth and a strong voice for all of the nation’s young people.

Merrimack Valley’s Oldest Living Female Veteran Honored at Methuen Municipal Inauguration Ceremony

Theresa Skorupka (99), current resident at Methuen Village Assisted Living and Compass Memory Support, was honored during the Methuen Municipal Inauguration Ceremony on Jan 6. According to the Veterans office, they believe her to be the oldest living female veteran in the Merrimack Valley.

Skorpuka was escorted in a police car to the event, accompanied by Beth Haydon, director of community relations at Methuen Village. At the ceremony, Skorpuka was officially honored as a Methuen Veteran. 

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Windrush Farm Announces New Board President

Windrush Farm, a leading therapeutic riding center, announced that the board of directors has elected Lucy Vaill as the new board president.

A lifelong equestrian, Vaill succeeds Boxford resident Bob Gore, who served as president of the board of directors for seven years.

NoteWorthy – 1/5/20

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AROUND THE VALLEY

Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union’s Small Acts That Give Back

Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union closed out its 2019 Small Acts That Give Back initiative with a Small Act at Fletcher Street Market Basket in Lowell.

For the second consecutive year, Credit Union employees surprised shoppers with a Market Basket gift card and a Jeanne D’Arc tote bag to assist with their shopping.

 

Brown Spring Farm Is Now Permanently Protected

West Newbury’s Brown Spring Farm will continue to be a working farm long into the future thanks to a collaboration between Greenbelt — Essex County’s Land Trust, the town of West Newbury and a new farmer who now has a farm to call his own.

A town meeting vote in West Newbury last spring that approved $200,000 in Community Preservation Act funds for the project enabled the town and Greenbelt to acquire a private Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) on the property. The APR, which permanently eliminates the rights to develop the farmland, makes the value of the restricted property affordable to a new farmer. 

Tuscan Brands Donates Christmas Dinner and Gifts to Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence 

As last year’s Christmas party got underway at the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence, Tuscan Brands founder Joe Faro — a longtime club volunteer and donor — smiled as the 650 youth members joyfully anticipated their holiday dinner followed by Santa’s arrival to distribute donated gifts.

The Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence received more than 1,500 presents and gift cards this holiday season from individuals and companies including New Balance and Planet Fitness, which also made a generous donation. Tuscan Brand’s holiday dinner, which consisted of fresh bread, salad, homemade pasta, meatballs and cannoli, was served by board members, longtime donors and volunteer groups such as Marshalls.

Community Needs Assessment Survey 

Community Teamwork is reaching out to a wide range of businesses and organizations across many sectors of its community action service footprint, which consists of Lowell and the surrounding towns of Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro and Westford, to elicit help in disseminating the survey. The goal of the needs assessment survey is to have a robust response from a diverse population that reflects the community that Community Teamwork serves, in order to shape its programming and service offerings.

Community Teamwork is urging as many people as possible to complete the survey. Individuals who complete the survey have the option to enter a raffle for a $100 Visa gift card.  The survey can be found beginning Jan. 7 on the Community Teamwork website at www.commteam.org, or at the following locations.

English version: SurveyMonkey.com

Spanish version: SurveyMonkey.com

Portuguese version: SurveyMonkey.com

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Stay Work Play NH Welcomes New Board of Directors and Slate of Officers

Stay Work Play, a New Hampshire nonprofit whose mission is to attract and retain more young people in New Hampshire, has announced the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors and a new slate of officers.

Joining the organization are Stacy Covey, current general accounting manager at Planet Fitness World Headquarters; Janelle Gorman, chief financial officer at TRM Microwave; and John Greene, community relations and economic development specialist at Eversource Energy.

Co-chairing the organization in 2020 are E.J. Powers, executive vice president at Montagne Communications, and Kaitlyn Woods, senior media relations specialist at Eversource Energy.

NoteWorthy – 12/22/19

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AROUND THE VALLEY

Robert Rivers Awarded 2019 Dave Tibbetts Award

Robert Rivers, the chair and CEO of Eastern Bank, was awarded the 2019 Dave Tibbetts Awards at the annual Lawrence Partnership meeting on Dec. 18. The award is named in honor of David Tibbetts, its first recipient, for his life of service to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and his native city of Lawrence.

Rivers is involved extensively in the community, serving on multiple boards and providing support to numerous nonprofit organizations. He was named among the top 10 “Most Influential People in Boston” by Boston Magazine.

Haverhill Bank Partners With Ruth’s House For A Successful Giving Tuesday

L-r: Kimberley Smyly, Ruth’s House store manager; Barbara Donegan, Ruth’s House president of the board of directors; and Thomas L Mortimer, president/CEO at Haverhill Bank

Haverhill Bank took a leading role on Giving Tuesday, matching the first $1,000 of Giving Tuesday’s donations to Ruth’s House. “Haverhill Bank has long been a friend of Ruth’s House allowing our team to make a difference to those in need in the Merrimack Valley,” shared president of the Ruth’s House board Barbara Donegan. “This donation allows us to warmly clothe the children, seniors, families, and veterans in the community — we thank all those that donated and Haverhill Bank for the match!”

Students’ Invention Will Help Patients Walk Again

Photo Credits: Meg Moore for UMass Lowell

A team of UMass Lowell students has won a prestigious entrepreneurship contest with an invention to help physical therapy patients relearn how to walk.

The Community Ambulation Tool Mat is a slip-resistant floor surface made of interlocking tiles filled with compression beads that simulate the feel of walking on grass, sand and gravel. The portable plastic mat allows patients to practice walking on uneven terrain so they can regain their confidence when walking outdoors.

The invention won the top prize at the seventh annual Beantown Throwdown, Boston’s largest pitch contest for college students with ideas for new products, services, technologies and startups.

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